(By Kim)
Authority, in simple terms, means the power to influence and enforce obedience. Authority is what a leader has and a follower reveres.
Authority will separate the leader from the follower.
You may be a ministry leader, pastor, youth leader, manager at your workplace or teacher – whoever you are, you need authority to succeed in your role.
In this post I want to give you two simple secrets to establish your authority:
1. Know the Word of God
The Word of God is the supreme authority. Knowledge of God’s Word will raise you up. In Psalm 75:6 we read, Promotion ( authority ) does not come from the east, west or South, but from the Lord ( Word). So meditate upon God’s Word day and night. It will bring the anointing upon your life and with anointing comes favour and authority.
But mere knowledge of God’s Word is not enough. It may puff you up. That leads us to the second secret.
2. Practice what you preach
Look at what the Scripture says in Matthew 7:28,29, “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching. Because he taught as one who had authority and not as their teachers of the law.”
The crowds could easily see the difference between Jesus and the teachers of the law. While the latter had all the knowledge of the Word of God, they never actually practiced what they preached. On the other hand, Jesus set an example – in love, in serving others, in forgiveness, in humility and in everything He did.
Ministry leaders and pastors, you may have all the knowledge of the Word of God, but your authority will not come from how high you raise your voice to preach His Word, but how high you raise your standards in living the Word. Parents, your children will not come under your authority based on how much you beat or shout at them, but they will recognize your authority when they see you living the life you are telling them to live.
Seek God. Obey Him relentlessly and the authority will follow.